Windber Couple Charged with Kidnapping

JOHNSTOWN, PA—Two residents of Windber, Pa., have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on a charge of kidnapping, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The one-count indictment named Brittany D. Horner, 21, and Lawrence R. Horner, III, 35.

According to the indictment presented to the court, on July 9, 2011, the Horners kidnapped a person whose identity is known and referred to as “L.N.,” and willfully traveled and transported L.N. in interstate commerce in commission of the kidnapping offense.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, for each of the defendants. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Richland Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment or information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.